If you are a Canadian Commercial operator, chances are you have your own staff to maintain the helicopters.  Congratulations!   We respect your maintenance staff’s abilities & hold them in high regard.

They are constantly under stress to troubleshoot a defect, getting the aircraft ready, getting spares ready to go out in the field, towing, refuelling the aircraft & ensuring the helicopter is pristine… They live for the challenge.

Obviously, with the level of responsibility on your shoulders, you want your helicopter maintenance crew proficient in the work he/she is performing.  Proficiency comes with frequency & currency.

For example, with the same level of responsibility, a Cardiologist would not be expected to perform brain surgery due to unfamiliarity. 

Since there is a great chasm between line maintenance and heavy maintenance, you need to ask yourself the question: “When is the last time the Main Gear Box was removed & installed from one of our aircraft(s)?” or “How often have we split that engine?”